Our services to all boards

In this section

NZSTA core services

In line with our mission to lead and strengthen school governance in New Zealand NZSTA provides a number of services, under contract to the Ministry of Education. Unlike NZSTA’s membership-only activities our core services are available to all state, state-integrated and partnership schools, whether or not they are NZSTA members.

Advisory and Support Centre

NZSTA’s confidential Advisory and Support Centre (ASC) is staffed by a team of advisers in Wellington. They are open during term time from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday and 8am to 5pm on Fridays and school holidays. Our advisers have a range of board experience, employment and legal backgrounds and are well able to handle your queries about any issues that may arise in your role as a school trustee.

The ASC is also your first point of contact for our specialist Employment and Governance advisers out in the field.

Regional hubs advice and support

NZSTA employs a team of employment and governance advisers based in our four regional hubs who provide free and confidential employment and governance advice and support to all boards and principals. Our advisers are all experienced practitioners with extensive experience in dealing with employment and governance issues.

Professional Development

Effective boards commit to and plan for, ongoing improvement in their governance. This involves every trustee, and every board, committing to an annual professional development plan based on individual trustee and board identified needs. Whether this is understanding the board's roles and responsibilities, setting the strategic direction of the school, or monitoring student progress and achievement NZSTA has the professional development solution for you.

NZSTA is at the forefront of school governance and is in the ideal position to provide all boards with the most advanced governance support and information. This support can be any number of the following:

Nationally advertised workshops

Individual Professional Development specific to the needs of your board or local cluster

Targeted one-on-one support organised cluster groups

Residential in-depth

On-line (modules, videos, etc.)

To register or discuss any aspect of NZSTA professional development in your region

Emergency Staffing Scheme (ESS)

Since 1995 NZSTA has administered the Emergency Staffing Scheme (ESS) on contract to the Ministry of Education. The ESS scheme continues to fill a significant role in providing "last resort" emergency staffing cover for mainly small schools which are experiencing difficulties in replacing or providing temporary cover for a principal.